2026 Global Chemical Recycling Plant Counter
Purpose: To document the number and capacity of chemical recycling plants that are in commercial operation to process plastic waste into new plastic feedstock and compare to the global generation of plastic waste (per OECD 2024 data).
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Summary: The global capacity of all 12 operating chemical recycling plants is about 0.1% of global plastic waste produced. Operating chemical recycling plants were only identified in the U.S., EU, and Japan. No plants were identified in other countries or regions.
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Why: The plastics and products industries are promoting chemical recycling as a viable solution to plastic waste and pollution. Technical difficulties, along with extremely unfavorable economics compared to production of new plastics, stopped development on chemical recycling projects fifty years ago. The same technical difficulties and unfavorable economics are also insurmountable barriers to chemical recycling of plastic waste to make new plastic today and will continue to be in the future.​​
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Last Updated: June 12, 2026
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U.S. Chemical Recycling Plant Counter
Name
State
Feedstock
Technology
Status
Design Capacity
(Thousands of Tonnes/Yr)
Notes
Operating at reduced production rate
Operating at reduced production rate
Lux Research reports that “Nexus Circular has only produced a measly 1,700 tonne of pyrolysis oil after three years of starting operations.” That’s equivalent to 16% of design capacity.
Chemical Recycling Plant Capacity to Process U.S. Plastic Waste:
0.38%
Outside of U.S. Chemical Recycling Plant Counter
Name
Country
Feedstock
Technology
Status
Design Capacity
(Thousands of Tonnes/Yr)
Notes
​​​Information Welcomed: Companies are welcomed to send new information about operating plants. Please include a link to public data source proving commercial operation. Send to: lastbeachcleanup@gmail.com​​​​​
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